48 - The story of Narayani and Radha

Narada said—О Narayana, О great lord you are the one who emerged as Narayana, are the amsha of Narayana, О lord, you kindly narrate to me the story of Narayani.

I have heard the story of Surabhi which is quite pleasant and is considered to be the secret of the Puranas and is praised therein.

Now I want to listen to the best of the story of Radhika including her birth, dhyanam, stotra and the best of the kavachas.

Narayana said—In the earlier times, Shiva was seated on the top of the mountain Kailasa who happened to be the lord of the siddhas, who grants success, the form of all, the best of all having a pleasant face, delightful, wearing a serene smile on the face, adored by the ascetic and was narrating the story of the Rasamandala of lord Krishna at the instance of Kumara Karttikeya. Finding an opportunity goddess Parvati, feeling delighted in her mind, put a question to the lord offering prayers as she had already earned the grace of the lord. The goddess Parvati then said to Mahadeva.

Parvati said—I would like to listen to the unprecedented story of Radhika which is difficult to get even in the Puranas. О lord, I have listened to all the Agamas, the best of Pancaratra, the text on polity, Yogashastras of the yogis, siddhishastras of the siddhas, several types of tantras and the story of the devotion of lord Krishna. Besides the above I have already listened to the stories of all the goddesses from your mouth. Now I want to listen to the unprecedented story of Radhika as described in the Vedas and praised by you and also brought out in the Kanvashakha. You have already admitted while speaking on the other scriptures, that the words of Shiva can never be untrue. Therefore, О lord, protector of the devotees, now you kindly tell me about the birth of Radha, her dhyanam, the glory of reciting her name, the method of her adoration and her stotra besides the dhyanam and the method of adoration. Why was it not recited in the literature before the Agamas? At these words of Parvati, Shiva bowed his head. Getting afraid of desecrating his own words, the five faced Shiva felt panicky and his throat, lips and tongue got dried up. 

He started thinking, keeping quiet. He then thought of his own god lord Krishna and getting his permission, mentally, he spoke to his wife Parvati. 

Mahadeva said—During the time of Agamas I was prevented by lord Krishna to narrate the story of Radha. 

О Parvati, you happen to be my better-half and you will never separate from me. Therefore, lord Krishna has permitted me to narrate the story of Radha to you now. 

Radhika happens to be the beloved of my lord and her story is quite secret. It is quite pleasant for the devotees and bestows the devotion of lord Krishna. 

О Durga, I know the entire story of Radha which is unknown to Brahma Shesa, Sanatkumara, Sanatana, Indra, the best of sages, the siddhas and even the lord of siddha. 

О beautiful one, О goddess, at one stage you got ready to end your life, therefore you are quite powerful. Because of that, I am narrating to you the secret story. 

О Durga, the astonishing story of Radha is going to be narrated which is quite difficult to get and bestows immense merit. 

In the earlier times in the charming place of Vrundavana, in Goloka lord Krishna seated on the gem-studded throne in Rasamandala on the beautiful peaks of the mountain having fragrant creepers of the forest. At that point of time lord Krishna developed the desire for the love sport.

Because everything moves according to his will, therefore in the forest of the creepers when lord Jagannatha developed the desire for enjoying a love-sport, he was divided into two parts, Krishna emerged from right side while his left side was transformed into Radhika.

The damsel was quite charming, was the goddess of the divine dance and was desirous of having the love of Krishna. She was then seated on the gem-studded throne adorned with all the gem-studded ornaments. 

Her garments were purified by fire and possessed the glory resembling the crores of full moons. She had the complexion of molten gold. Illumining in her own lustre, she wore a serene smile on her face. She had the face resembling the lotus flower of the winter season and the lines of teeth looked quite beautiful. She had a beautiful hair-do on her head and there was a fragrant garland of jasmine flowers round her neck. She wore a garland of gems which emitted lustre like the sun; she wore a garland of jewels having the lustre of the flow of the water of Ganga. 

She had very stiff breasts which were roundish, raised like Sumeru mountain; were stiff, beautiful to look at and painted with kasthuri. Both of them were the treasure of welfare and bestower of the welfare, her pelvic region was stiff and heavy. She appeared fatigued and looked quite charming because of her youth. 

Lord Krishna who happens to be the lord of the lovers and the most beautiful of the universe, looked at her who was smiling with passion and was anxious to enjoy the company of the lord. 

He had also taken her in his lap on meeting her. О goddess, the ancient people described her as Radha because of this. 

Radha recites the name of Krishna while Krishna recites the name of Radha; for them everything is equal. This has been stated by the learned people. Lord Krishna while in the divine dance takes to the form of Radha, runs after her, embraces her and makes love reciting her name and occasionally he invites her with a sign. 

Therefore, О Durga, the devotee of lord Krishna achieves salvation by the mere recitation of Ra and by reciting the name of Dha they rush to the abode of the lord. 

Radha the goddess of the divine dance emerged from the left side of Krishna and all the other damsels emerged from her. Therefore, the word Radha is. also interpreted to mean salvation. Therefore, one gets redeemed with the recitation of her name. 

All the cowherdesses emerged from the hair pits of Radha whereas the cowherds emerged from the hair-pits of Krishna.

Mahalakshmi was born from the left side of Radha and became the great goddess of the lord known as Grhalakshmi. 

She became the wife of lord Vishnu and resided in Vaikuntha. The daughter of Sindhu was born of her ray and resided in Sveta-dvipa and happens to be wife of lord Vishnu who dwells in the ocean of milk. О Parvati, Lakshmi of the heaven was born out of her ray and bestowed treasure on Indra. She is known as Svarag-lakshmi. From her ray Raja-Lakshmi emerged, who provides grace to the kings.

The Martya-Lakshmi emerged from her and is found in the house of everyone. She is known by the name of Grhalakshmi. 

Radha herself becoming the wife of Krishna resides in his heart and she is the presiding deity of life of graet sole. 

О Parvati, taking everything from a straw of Brahma as false you should recite the name of the husband of Radha, who is the form of truth, beyond all the gunas, best of all, the supreme soul, the lord, eternal, adored by all without any desire, beyond Prakruti, moves at will having the eternal form and bestows grace on his devotees. There is nothing beyond him. 

His Radha is dearer to him than his life which represents great fortune. She happens to be the creator of Mahavishnu and is the basic Prakruti and the supreme goddess. 

All the sages adore Radhika daily with devotion because her lotus-like feet are easily available to them though Brahma and other gods cannot easily get the same. 

The cowherds are unable to look at the feet of Radha even in their dream. Radha herself always remains in the lap of lord Krishna like a shadow. 

О dearest one, out of the twelve cowherds, there was a cowherd named Rayana-gopa who happened to be a ray of lord Krishna and was as valorous as lord Vishnu himself. Because of the curse of a cowherd named Sudhama, the goddess Radha descended from Goloka and was born on earth in the house of Vrushabhanu and her mothers name was Kalavati.